Norma Elizabeth Baker

Norma Elizabeth Baker, 94, died peacefully at Masonic Healthcare Center in Wallingford, Connecticut on December 5, 2021. Norma was born February 23, 1927, the daughter of Leslie and Dorothy (Collett) Rundle. She was preceded in death by her husband, Wallace George Baker, who died in 2000.

Norma lived in Wallingford throughout her childhood, graduating from Lyman Hall High School in 1945. She graduated from Hartford Hospital School of Nursing in 1948 where she also completed training for the Army Cadet Nurse Corp. After graduation, she began her nursing career at Hartford Hospital. She later worked many years at Meriden Hospital, primarily in the recovery room. After moving to Cape Cod, she worked at Brewster Manor, a skilled nursing facility. Wherever she worked, she was a compassionate and caring nurse, dedicated to her patients and colleagues. She brought her experience to Bradley Memorial Hospital in Southington, Conn. where she volunteered many hours and was awarded the quarterly Outstanding Volunteer. Despite her battle with dementia, she continued to be intuitive regarding the needs of others, always offering to help and “work”.

During her many years of retirement, she kept busy with her volunteer work, including the Hyannis Hospital craft fair, Cheshire Lutheran Church, and Ashlar Village. She spent as much time as possible with her children and grandchildren, especially at her home on Cape Cod. She was always busy with crafts, knitting, and cross stitch and made many items which continue to adorn our homes. She had a tradition of knitting sweaters for each grandchild for Christmas, often incorporating a symbol of their current interest (i.e., tractor, dinosaur, soccer ball, ballet shoes)

Norma was predeceased by her brother, Gary Rundle and is survived by her sister, Marcia (Luther) Killam of Suffield, Ct.; Daughter, Sally (David) Schrumm of Cheshire, Ct; Son, Kurt ( Cathie) Baker of Glenside, Pa.; GRANDCHILDREN of beloved “Gina”: Rebecca (Frank Moore) Schrumm of Dover, N.H.; Jeffrey ( Becky) Schrumm of Westboro, Ma; Katey ( Andrew) Bryant of West Point, N.Y.; Jackie (Tony) Breuninger of Oreland, Pa. and Zachary (Christina) Baker of Abington Pa.; GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN : Eleanor and Henry Moore, Tyler, Heidi and Isabel Schrumm, Hannah and Trevor Breuninger, Dylan and Everly Baker, and Charles and Nathaniel Bryant; as well as several nieces and nephews.

We thank the Wooster 2 Dementia Unit staff for their compassionate care and dedication to the needs of Norma these past few years.

A memorial service is scheduled for Wednesday, December 29, 2021, at 11 am at the Cheshire Lutheran Church, 660 West Main St., Cheshire, Connecticut. There are no calling hours and burial will be private. A time for fellowship and refreshment at the church will follow. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Wooster 2 Dementia Unit at Masonic HealthCare Center through: Masonic Annual Appeal, Masonic Charity Foundation of Connecticut PO Box 70 Wallingford, CT 06492.